How to Plan a Child's Birthday Party (Shad Riggs)

When you are organizing your child's birthday party there are so many details that need to be taken into consideration that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. This article provides some top tips that will help you to plan and host the best birthday party ever.

Guests

The first step is to figure out how many guests you would like to attend the party. You can start by writing a list of all your child's friends. Be sure to ask your child directly who they would want to invite, as you may be accidentally missing people off of the list. Allow extra room for additional guests and parents too. The number of guests you would like to invite will affect where you will host the party.

Venue

One of the most popular places to host a birthday party is in your own home. You will have full control over the space, and you can decorate it as you wish. However if you plan on inviting a large number of guests and you don't have the space in your own home, then you may have to hire a venue for the party. Venue's can include village halls, large outdoor spaces, or entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys.

Theme

Now it is time to work out the theme of your party. Always put your child first and think of their favourite things. Do they have a favourite movie or TV show? Do they have a favourite colour? Do they have a special hobby? Get your thinking cap on and start to narrow down the ideas that you have for the theme. Some ideas for themes can include:

* Fancy dress themes e.g pirates, animals
* Disney princess party
* Mad hatter tea party
* Sports parties
* Arts and craft parties

You can search online for images and inspiration on how to develop your theme for the party. Once you decide on the theme you will be able to choose your food and drink, party bags, and entertainment that all tie in with that theme.

Food and Drink

The food and drink should complement the theme of the party. One of the most important parts of the party is the cake. In order to save time and hassle you should consider hiring a professional to bake a cake for your party. They will be able to give you some ideas on what type of cake can fit in best with your theme. A current trend is to have cupcakes at your party. A great cake maker will even be able to transform your cupcakes into a beautiful style cake for something really special and unusual.

Party Bags

Party bags are a great way to thank your guests for coming to the party. You can fill your party bag with small gifts that will relate to the theme of the party. Some popular gift ideas can include stickers, sticker books, stationery, bracelets, sweets and toys.

Be sure to take plenty of photos of the event so that you can look back and remember the day for many years to come.

A cake is the most important element for a birthday party or any other special occasion. People are becoming very fond of special customized cup cakes these days. Order cupcakes in Perth, WA for all kinds of parties and events!
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Mango Chunda/ Chutney

          Mango Chunda, a sweet and spicy chutney, I don't remember when I first tasted this, I think, I had it with some parathas at a friend's place. It's a Gujarati dish, traditionally served with theplas and parathas, and it's prepared with raw mangoes and has a sweet and spicy taste. While reading about it, I came to know, that the traditional way of making this, is really a lengthy process, where the grated mango is mixed with sugar and left to melt naturally under the sun, and then the spice powders are added. But I tried this easy version from Tarla Dalal's recipe collection, and the result was awesome. Now I have a small jar of it, which can be used for at least a year, that is, if it's not finished by then, a tasty accompaniment for any paratha or even as a spread on a slice of bread..

Need To Have

• Raw Mango -1 grated, came to 1 cup
• Sugar - 11/2 cups
• Red Chilly Powder - 2 teaspoons
• Roasted Cumin Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Salt - 1 teaspoon

Method

          Add the turmeric powder and salt to the grated mango, mix well and leave it for 15 minutes.

          Then add the 11/2 cups of sugar, a little at a time, about 2 tablespoons, mix, leave for a minute or two and repeat, do this over a period of 30 to 35 minutes, till all the sugar is mixed with the grated mango.

          Heat a pan, add the mango mixture, keep stirring on low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, till the sugar is completely dissolved and it starts bubbling up. At this stage, switch off and cool it completely.

          Once it's cooled, add the chilly powder and roasted cumin powder and mix well. Store this in clean jars, in a cool dry place. We had it with some methi theplas.

Note
Don't dump all the sugar at once, doing it this way is supposed to replace the original method of leaving it in the sunlight to melt.
For roasted cumin powder, just roast some cumin seeds and crush it in a mortar or a blender.
The original recipe called for 3 teaspoons of chilly powder, I've reduced it to 2, since my chilly powder is very spicy, I would advise you to taste while mixing.
Though the chunda can be left outside in a cool, dry place, I have refrigerated it, can't trust the Chennai hot weather.

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M&M Catering now supply latest Panther Series Hot Cupboards (Christian Cadogan)

M&M Catering in Bridgend are now proudly supplying the very latest Lincat Panther series hot cupboards across the nation.
Vital in every kitchen, these are the very latest models available from one of the most reputable and trusted names in the catering trade.

In a demanding environment, a top specification hot cupboard that you can rely on can make the difference between a smooth service and a kitchen nightmare which is why the Panther range is a fantastic option for professional caterers.
You can now use the M&M website to choose from a huge array of optional extras to enhance and customise aspects to suit any personal needs and requirements.

Hot cupboards don't have to be used to create a static kitchen pass, they can of also be used to form a servery or even to simply transport food in a warm environment; whatever you want to get out of your hot cupboard, the Panther range will be able to accommodate it.

One of the best new features of the Panther 670 series is the choice of choosing between four vibrant fascia colours to enhance and enliven any kind of eatery, whilst looking smart and professional. If you want to keep it traditional though, it's up to you as you can always stick with the dependable stainless steel finish!

Whether you need ambient or heated gantries, ceramic pad inserts, pass-through models, mult-tiered overshelves or simply a place to keep your plates and food warm, the Panther 800 and the Panther 670 series hot cupboards are the smart caterers choice.

Since 1989, M&M catering have supplied Second Hand Catering Equipment, Used Catering Equipment, Reconditioned Catering Equipment Wales to thousands of customers all backed up with our specialist technical knowledge. Providing complete solutions for the supply, hire and repair of commercial catering equipment, our customers have been depending on us for well over twenty years. To know more visit http://www.mmcatering.co.uk/

M&M Catering Equipment have been the go to suppliers for thousands of bars, restaurants & kitchens across South Wales and beyond. In order to ensure that our customers always get quality at the right price, we have only the highest standards in regards to the ukcatering equipment Wales which passes into and out of our doors. To read more visit http://www.mmcatering.co.uk/

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Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake

          Chocolate Mug Cake, finally I got to post it, and a vegan version. I've tried it so many times, sometimes it had turned out good and then sometimes, like a flab of rubber that I had to throw away. It was when I was making the Eggless Cauldron Cakes, I had some leftover batter, that I poured in some ramekins and microwaved, it came out very well, so I stuck to that. Then yesterday, I tried a vegan version, using orange juice and oil, the result was very good, ideal for those days, when you want a chocolate cake, but then, lazy to bake a big one..

Need To Have

• All Purpose Flour - 3 tablespoons
• Sugar - 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
• Hershey's Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - 11/2 tablespoons
• Baking Soda - 1/4 teaspoon
• Orange Juice - 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
• Oil - 21/2 teaspoons

Method

          Take all the dry ingredients in a mug, add the juice and oil, whisk it well.

          Microwave it for about 1 minute 45 seconds to 2 minutes. Let it cool and enjoy.

Note
I've given the time from 1 min 45 secs to 2 mins because it might vary with microwaves.
Don't microwave it too long, the cake will lose all the moisture and turn out very dry.
The cake batter should be thinner than that we use when we bake in a regular oven.
The sugar level was fine for us, if you like your cake very sweet, then add a teaspoon more.
Remove it while the cake is still moist, it dries up, as it cools.
I've used a small mug, so that the cake would come to the top ( for photos), so I had to keep an eye that it didn't overflow, the batter usually bubbles up, but finally it doesn't over flow, if needed, stop and start the microwave.

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Melbourne Travel Guide (Keaton Ochoa)

Melbourne is the capital city of the state of Victoria, which is located in South-Western Australia. It is a popular tourist destination with people from all over the world, partly thanks to its many attractions, great climate and beautiful scenery. This article takes a look at some of the best places to eat, sleep and drink, and how to get around when you are visiting the beautiful city of Melbourne.

Tourist Attractions

Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do in the city. No visit to Melbourne is complete without a trip to Federation Square, which is located opposite Flinders Station. It is the perfect place to people watch while enjoying a coffee at one of the many cafes. Special events, such as festivals and exhibitions are also held in this square throughout the year.

The Botanical Gardens are a beautiful place to visit with all the family. The gardens are home to over 50,000 species of plants, which are positioned within 35 hectares of land. You can take a picnic and enjoy the beautiful greenery of the park. The Botanical Gardens are open from 7:30am until sunset everyday of the year, and entry is completely free of charge.

Art-lovers will enjoying visiting the National Gallery of Victoria. The gallery is the cities largest and oldest public art gallery. It contains artworks by many famous artists, including Constable, Auguste, Rodin, and J.M.W Turner. Entry is free of charge, although tickets are required for special events and exhibitions. The gallery also has a second centre which is located in Federation Square, which is home to indigenous artworks from colonial times to the present day.

Where to Eat

Melbourne boasts a huge range of dining options to suit all tastes and budgets. From small cafes and local pubs, to luxurious dining experiences - there really is something for everyone.

Where to Sleep

There are extensive accommodation options spread throughout the city and the suburban areas. Visitors can choose to stay in a basic but clean hostel room, right up to a beautiful 5 star hotel. Camping options are also available throughout the year.

Travel

Melbourne has a huge range of transportation options. It boasts four airports: Melbourne International Airport, Avalon Airport, Moorabbin Airport and Essendon airport, all of which offer frequent passenger flights. Melbourne International airport is the largest of the lot, offering domestic and international flight to cities all around the world. Taxis and buses are available from the airport to locations across the city.

Melbourne bus network is composed of over 300 routes, with regular services to the outer suburbs and inner city areas.

The city also has its own tram network, which is actually the largest tram network in the world with 1,773 tram stops. Trams will provide a fun, affordable and convenient way to see the sights.

The rail network is also well developed, with 200 suburban stations. The rail connections serve major stops in the city centre, suburbs and they also connect to regional cities and interstate locations.

Melbourne is a wonderful tourist destination in Australia, also known for its wide range of dining options. Enjoy your meals at a fine dining restaurant in Melbourne and experience the best food.
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How to Make Delicious, Inexpensive Soft Pretzels at Home (Chris Rawstern)

While making soft pretzels seems like a lot of steps, they are really simple to make. It takes about 2 hours from start to finish, and once baked, the reason for these steps is apparent. A very short rising time makes quick work of the dough. A quick boil in a pot of water gives them the chewy exterior, and the egg wash gives them the shine. It is my belief that using a beer in the batter and boiling water enhances the yeasty flavor, but it is completely a matter of choice.

Another factor to take into consideration is the size of the pretzel. The ones sold in most places are just huge. In this day and age, that size is far too large for most people in one sitting. If that size is of interest, you may choose to make the recipe into only about 6 pretzels. I believe making them into 8 or 10 is the perfect size. The baking time may need adjusting, should you use the larger size.

Soft Pretzels at Home

PRETZEL DOUGH

4 - 4 1/2 cups bread flour
2 packets of instant or quick rise yeast
1 cup water plus 1/2 cup beer, OR use 1 1/2 cups water
3 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt

BOILING LIQUID

7 cups water plus 1 cup beer, OR use 8 cups water
1/2 cup baking soda

EGG WASH

1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon agave syrup
Coarse salt for sprinkling

In a mixer bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour with the yeast. Heat to lukewarm the 1 cup water and 1/2 cup of beer, or all water as desired, along with the 3 tablespoons sugar and the salt. Ensure that the liquid is just warm to the finger and not too hot. Add the liquid to the mixing bowl and starting on low to combine the ingredients. Then increase speed and beat well for about 3 minutes. If your mixer is heavy duty and can knead a very stiff dough, switch to a dough hook and add in 2 1/2 to 3 cups more flour. If you do not have a heavy duty mixer, take the bowl and using hands, incorporate the flour to make a stiff dough. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to rest for 20 minutes, while preparing the rest of the ingredients.

In a large soup pot, place the 7 cups water and 1 cup beer or just use 8 cups water. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to the water. If beer is in the mixture, expect the liquid to foam up significantly. Bring this mixture to a simmer.

Mix together in a small bowl the egg yolk, tablespoon of water and the agave syrup. If agave syrup is not available, an unflavored corn syrup could be used. Combine well and set aside. Have a pastry brush handy. Prepare two large baking sheets by lining them with parchment. Spray the parchment with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Turn the dough out onto a flat surface. You may not need any flour on the surface if the dough is quite stiff. Divide the dough into 8 to 10 pieces. Each piece should be rolled into a rope about 24 inches long. Make the rope into a U shape, then bring down and cross the ends to make the pretzel shape. Pinch together the points where the dough intersects. Place 1 or 2 of the pretzels into the pot of simmering liquid. Time for 1 minute, then flip over and time for 1 minute more. Drain well on paper toweling and place them onto the baking sheets. Repeat with all the shaped pretzels.

Brush the boiled pretzels with the egg wash and then sprinkle on the coarse salt. Bake the pretzels for 18 to 20 minutes, until a nice golden brown. Makes 8 to 10 medium sized soft pretzels.

Read the instructions carefully and have everything prepared and handy and you will have wonderful, hot and chewy pretzels in about 2 hours.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope it was informative and helped you along your own culinary journey. You will find many more recipes and helpful tips on my web site. I am on Facebook at A Harmony of Flavors and share a recipe or tip each day to the fans that have liked my site. I hope to see you there soon.

My name is Chris Rawstern, I have been on a cooking and baking journey for 42 years. Many people have asked what A Harmony of Flavors means. Have you ever had a meal where the visual presentation was stunning, the smells were incredible the taste was so remarkable that you ate slowly savoring every bite, wishing the experience would never end? Then you have experienced what a truly harmonious meal can be like.
I began my cooking career in Guatemala, in 1970. I moved there as a naive 20-year-old, and set out to learned about cooking in a foreign land. I will pass along special recipes that I have been making for 42 years, and new ones. I will also pass on tips or notes with things to watch for and what just plain works better. I have amassed huge quantities of recipes over the years, and recently have begun giving classes.
My passion is to teach people how to create a Harmony of Flavors with their cooking, and help pass along my love and joy of food simple and exotic, plain or fancy. I continue my journey in ethnic and domestic cuisines, trying new things. I would love to hear from you, to help me continue my journey to explore diverse culinary experiences and hopefully to start you on a journey of your own.
Visit my Web site http://www.aharmonyofflavors.com my Blog my Marketplace at http://www.a-harmony-of-flavors-marketplace.com or on Facebook page at A Harmony of Flavors. I share a recipe or tip each day to the fans that have liked my site.I hope to see you there soon

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Tomato Capsicum Dal/ Lentils

          Dal/ Lentils is the main source of protein in a vegetarian diet, but eating the same old dal or sambar every single day can become a little boring. Adding a different vegetable or slightly tweaking the spices added can result in very different flavors, this Tomato Capsicum Dal is one such attempt. The capsicum, fenugreek, coconut and jaggery added makes this dal taste different from the usual and it goes well both with rice and rotis, give it a try, you might like it..

Need To Have

• Tuvar Dal/ Split Pigeon Peas - 1/4 cup
• Tomatoes - 2 medium, chopped
• Capsicum - 1, chopped
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Red Chilly Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Coriander Powder - 2 teaspoons
• Grated Coconut - 1 tablespoon
• Jaggery - 1 teaspoon
• Asafoetida - 1/4 teaspoon
• Urad Dal/ Black Gram - 1 teaspoon
• Mustard Seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Fenugreek Seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Chopped Coriander - 1 tablespoon

Method

          Pressure cook the tuvar dal with water and turmeric powder, mash slightly and keep. Heat some oil, add the urad dal, mustard seeds, when it starts popping, add the fenugreek seeds and the asafoetida. Just as the fenugreek seeds start changing color, add the chopped capsicum pieces and saute for about 2 minutes. Then add the chopped tomatoes and mix for a minute.

          Add the chilly and coriander powders, coconut and jaggery, mix for another minute till the tomatoes turn mushy. Now add the cooked dal and about 2 cups of water, bring it to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Finally, add the chopped coriander and switch off.

Note
You can also use a mixture of tuvar dal and chana dal/ split chickpeas.
Make small batches of coriander powder, it loses its flavor very fast.

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